GURGAON: A major hurdle in the way of Dwarka Expressway has been cleared by HUDA. The authority has decided to give alternative plots to over 200 house owners whose property was coming in the way of the speedway. The ambitious road project, which will cut short the travel time between Gurgaon and Dwarka in Delhi, was launched amid fanfare in 2011 but soon got stuck in litigation.

Property developers, who have dozens of housing and commercial projects on this stretch, have welcomed the HUDA move. Most big builders had launched projects here hoping it to be the next link between the Gurgaon and national capital. However, the projects got stuck when the negotiation between house owners and HUDA were stalled around a year back.

Housing prices here have jumped nearly three-fold ever since the launch of the Northern Periphery Road (NPR) project. "We welcome HUDA's decision to allot alternate plots to the house owners of new Palam Vihar. Now, the government should expedite road construction. This project has the power to boost a sluggish realty market in NCR," said Kushagra Ansal, president of Ansal Housing and Constructions.

Another builder, on request of anonymity said, "HUDA has been extremely slow in implementing the project. They have taken all sort of taxes from us but not cleared the way. We have invested hundreds of corers but there are few buyers. We hope, at least now the HUDA will complete the project soon."